It looks like a new "locally integrated menu" will make it into Unity, starting with version 5.6.0. There's basically no information about the new locally integrated menubar, except for two bug reports which link to some custom Unity, Compiz, Metacity and Light Themes branches so to see "LIM" in action, I've compiled all these branches and here's the result. The "locally integrated menubar" can be displayed on the panel (for maximized windows) as well as in the window decoration (unmaximized windows). But it's not displayed on both in the same time.

If you want someone to blame for bad GUI design... point at the head honchos of companies and organizations whose main role is advertising; those desperate for change *just to be "new" and different*, because they see dollar signs or for some reason think it'll be more "interesting" to people, not a truly better way of doing things. Those people who try to throw away everything and claim their extreme ideas of a GUI is the best thing ever. Mark Shuttleworth at Ubuntu... whoever's braindead idea was to ruin Windows... and the big GNOME guys.

have you ever heard of spitballs? I'll explain real slow for you. sometimes spitballs stick to the wall when you throw them. sometimes they dont. right now nobody is throwing spitballs except an elite few like me. that's a http://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/metaphor

when developing computer interfaces becomes easy as making food or singing a song, then we'll see the real new designs.

I think the point here is that design, behavior, services and content should be decoupled from each other.

That way *anyone* could experiment aggressively with novel arrangements just by learning, for example, javascript, some markup, and css. Sound familiar? Developers *at best* are no better than other people at UX and design and there is a lot of reason to believe they are actually worse at it (disclosure: I am a developer)

Bagging on artists has to be the strangest response to the parent post I can imagine. WTF people?

How about we (the human race) make user interfaces so easy to redesign that any artist can do it. Then maybe we'll see some real work done, rather than just programmers shuffling buttons around.

Artists should never EVER be allowed to do the work of actual designers. Designers have to consider form AND function, while artists almost always choose form OVER function (see also: Apple).

You just have to look at the last few years of UI trends (especially on the web) to see what happens when artists try to design UI. The priorities are clearly: above all else, make it pretty, then make it functional... maybe, eventually, if there's some time left over.

Artists should never EVER be allowed to do the work of actual designers. Designers have to consider form AND function, while artists almost always choose form OVER function (see also: Apple).

I absolutely disagree. I think it's horrible to intentionally restrict someones ability to customize the gui in a way that suits their needs & wants. In terms of functionality, not everybody works the same so why would you assume they do and force a single layout on them? People by and large are the best judges when it comes to what works best _for them_...

You just have to look at the last few years of UI trends (especially on the web) to see what happens when artists try to design UI. The priorities are clearly: above all else, make it pretty, then make it functional... maybe, eventually, if there's some time left over.

So what. If a user wants a pretty gui, why shouldn't they 'be allowed' to create one?

I don't discourage anyone's creativity. If they want to take a stab at customizing their own gui, go for it. If they prefer to use premade stuff, go for it.

For a forum that seems so pro-Linux/giving-control-to-the-user, there sure is some irony on display regarding this subject. Then again someone else deciding they know what's best for you is nothing new and clearly nothing is exempt from that desire to be judge & jury.

I own a couple luxury vehicles. All of them have a very nice woodgrain package. This, of course, doesn't do anything for functionality, but it I like it and it makes my experience more enjoyable. I'm certainly glad it was my choice to customize that aspect of my vehicles, and not your decision that I shouldn't be allowed to do so.